For a film franchise that’s run for almost 60 years, the James Bond legacy has been one of the most steadfast properties when it comes to maintaining the theatrical experience. This has especially been true in a world where landmark properties are now seen more and more as potentially rich mines for television and streaming experiences. However, don’t expect the post-No Time To Die future to include a big-budget TV series, as longtime series producer Barbara Broccoli has gone on record as stating that episodic adventures are just not in the cards for 007.
The topic at hand is probably the hottest prospect for James Bond-related discussion outside of the upcoming film, as the cinematic world of Ian Fleming’s iconic espionage hero has been pondered over rather fiercely. We’re now in a world where Netflix and Apple both tried to score No Time To Die as a streaming debut, with its impending theatrical release seemingly an immovable prospect at last, thoughts might naturally turn to the world of a television show set in that same well-explored world. But you might as well turn them back around, because while speaking with Total Film, Barbara Broccoli firmly committed to the very familiar call when asked if James Bond TV was still out of contention.
You got it. We make films. We make films for the cinema. That’s what we do. We’ve resisted that call for 60 years.
Even with MGM’s acquisition by Amazon still in the midst of being processed and finalized, fans may not automatically think of streaming when it comes to the future of James Bond. While some may think a spinoff of some sort could be a proper extension of the series for weekly installments, even that hypothetical seems to be dashed by Barbara Broccoli, and by extension Eon Productions, and the insistence that Bond is a theatrical hallmark alone. Though, as indicated by Ms. Broccoli’s statement, this definitely isn’t the first time that the idea a James Bond TV experience has been kicked around.
Back in 1954, only a year after Ian Fleming had published Casino Royale, that story was used to bring James Bond to the small screen through CBS’ drama anthology program Climax! Eventually, Fleming was approached by the network [to attempt a series adaptation of 007’s exploits](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CasinoRoyale(Climax!), which ultimately never panned out. It wasn't much longer after that when the cinematic institution that launched with Sean Connery as the face of James Bond was put into motion, with great thanks to the efforts of Barbara Broccoli’s father, Albert.
Perpetually insisting that James Bond will only ever return to theaters, rather than a streaming queue or TV network near you, Barbara Broccoli (and her step-brother and co-producer Michael G. Wilson) will remain solid as a rock when it comes to where the post-Daniel Craig era will lead them. Though we don’t know who will play the next Bond, nor do we know if No Time To Die’s arc-ending storyline will set up a new age of continuity, it’s at least comforting to know that James Bond will be seen where we’ve always seen him: on the big screen.
The clock is still ticking towards No Time To Die’s fall release, with the royal premiere set for September 28th, and the general theatrical release landing on September 30th in the UK. U.S. audiences will have to wait a little longer, as Daniel Craig’s final entry as James Bond will debut stateside on October 8th. But if you want to see what action awaits in the world of TV, check out the 2021 Fall TV Premiere Schedule, and see what thrills you can catch on a small screen near you.
